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U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, puts on a Navy ball cap during an all-hands call at Naval Support Activity Bahrain in Manama, Bahrain, Dec. 13, 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist …

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Gen. warns of tough year ahead on Afgh.

Updated: Tuesday, 16 Mar 2010, 1:13 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 16 Mar 2010, 10:22 AM EDT

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The man who oversees U.S. forces in both the Iraq and Afghan wars says the fighting in Afghanistan will "likely get harder before it gets easier" and predicts 2010 will be a difficult year.

On Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus said he expects the United States can reduce its forces as planned, from about 97,000 to 50,000 by the end of August.

Petraeus, who heads the U.S. Central Command, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday. As the architect of the successful troop build up in Iraq in 2007, his assessment of America's wars is closely watched in Congress. He said he expects U.S. forces will be able to reverse the momentum gained by Taliban militants in Afghanistan, but Petraeus also said he envisions "tough fighting and periodic setbacks."

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